Process and device for viewing adjacent microfilm frames in series

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment, a microfilm-inserter machine adapted for simultaneous viewing of separate microfilm frames adjacent before and after a strip cutting device and for severing and thereafter insertion of cut-sections of microfilm into microfilm into microfilm jackets. Thereby, by use of the machine, a person is able to speedily cut the frame sections exactly where desired by virtue of the two separate and adjacent viewers in series along the path of travel of feed of the microfilm.

This invention concerns a novel process and a novel device for theintroduction or insertion of microfilm into microfilm jackets, and is acontinuation-in-part of parent application U.S. Ser. No. 611,004 filedSept. 8, 1975, issued Oct. 25, 1977 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,187, and ofits divisionals U.S. Ser. No. 845,482 (now U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,891) andU.S. Ser. No. 845,483 (now U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,837), both divisionalsfiled on May 13, 1976.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known that there are no known mechanical devices that permit theprecise and rapid severing of microfilm strip fragments of severalframes from a longer strip, and insertion of severed microfilm stripsinto microfilm jackets in a satisfactory way.

The microfilm strips or microfilm frames are for the most part insertedby means of a time-consuming manual process into the individual sectionsof the microfilm jacket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The basic object of the invention was therefore to develop a noveldevice for the introduction or insertion of microfilm strips and/ormicrofilm frames into microfilm jackets, and for simultaneously thecutting of a microfilm strip.

A further basic object of the invention was to develop a device for theintroduction and insertion of microfilm, and to simultaneously permitthe transport, the cutting and the rendering viewable of the microfilmstrip and/or the individual microfilm frames.

A basic object of the invention was also to provide the device suitedfor the transport, cutting, rendering viewable, and introduction orinsertion with a microfilm jacket support and holder device, and also topermit a precise and rapid introduction and insertion of the microfilmstrips or microfilm frames in a series into the jacket.

Finally, it was an object of the invention to construct the jacketsupport and holder device in such a way that a continuous resetting andexchange of the microfilm strips and microfilm frames in a series wasmade possible.

Pursuant to the invention, the objects were obtained by means of amicrofilm introduction or insertion device, suited both for theinsertion of microfilm strips and of microfilm frames. Simultaneouslythe device transports the microfilm frames or microfilm strips, cutsthem, renders them viewable, introduces and inserts them into themicrofilm jacket continuously or intermittently. As well, the device isused for transferring the microfilm strips or microfilm frames that havealready been inserted in the first microfilm jacket into a secondmicrofilm jacket.

The novel microfilm introduction and insertion device is characterizedmainly by the fact that the microfilm insertion opening of the microfilmjacket is located in the microfilm jacket holding tray, at the edge orrim; also a mechanism presses down upon the upper edge, which mechanismflexes the front lip downwardly. The lip extends beyond thejacket-support or holder near the microfilm-insertion opening. Thefeeding device aligns the longitudinal axis of the microfilm (a) withthe longitudinal axis of the microfilm jacket and (b) with thelongitudinal axis of the microfilm-support holding tray on which themicrofilm jacket is mounted. The device which moves the microfilmforwardly continuously or intermittently and introduces it into theinsertion opening of the microfilm jacket.

A microfilm projection device serves to render viewable individualsections of the microfilm and/or individual microfilm frames; at thesame time, by means of a dual projection device the microfilm stripsand/or the microfilm frames can be rendered viewable both before andafter cutting.

Generally speaking, the invention concerns a microfilm jacketintroduction or insertion device, consisting of a microfilm-support andholding device. It holds the microfilm jacket in a predetermined desiredposition (in a holding tray) such that a particular edge portion of theholding tray support structure is located above the introduction orinsertion opening at the front edge of the microfilm jacket; thisparticular edge portion extends beyond a lower surface point fordownward flexing of a leading lower lip of the microfilm jacket. Thedevice pursuant to the invention further includes a pressure-producingstructure in the form of a device adapted to flex-downwardly the leadinglower lip of the microfilm jacket. Thereby it is possible toflex-downwardly the unsupported part of the leading lip of the microfilmjacket, downwardly as pressure is exerted on the upper surface of themicrofilm jacket's leading lower lip. This device operates in such a waythat the opening of the section of the microfilm jacket is openedrelatively wide, so that the end of a microfilm can be easily inserted.

Various preferred embodiments of the device pursuant to the inventionpossess in combination elements of an insertion device to introduce themicrofilms to be inserted or the microfilm frames to be inserted, whilethe longitudinal axis of the insertion device is arranged linearly withthe longitudinal axis of the section of the microfilm jacket into whichthe microfilm is to be inserted. In addition, a cutting device isprovided, in order to cut the individual frames from the microfilm,while the frames are located in the insertion device or near it.Furthermore, in the device pursuant to the invention, an advancingdevice is provided. A conventional image projection device or two ormore image projection devices, is/are provided at a point near theintroduction or insertion point. Thereby the microfilm to be inserted orthe microfilm frames to be inserted can be rendered viewable, wherebythe operators can determine which part of the microfilm or of themicrofilm frame begins at one point and ends at another point, beforethe next section must be advanced and determined.

In a preferred embodiment, two image projection devices are provided,which make it possible to observe both the part of the microfilm locatedin front of the cutting device and the part that is behind the cuttingdevice.

The present device pursuant to the invention makes it possible, in anefficient and rapid manner, to view or observe the individual frames ofthe microfilm or the microfilm strip at the point of insertion into thesection of the microfilm jacket at the time of the separation bycutting.

In a further improved and preferred embodiment of the device pursuant tothe invention, a feeding roll device and a novel microfilm jacket holderarranged in series are provided, in which the microfilm jackets are setcontinuously end to end in series along their longitudinal axes, as acontinuous microfilm jacket-tape or band or envelope, with intermittentinsertion openings. Furthermore, it is preferable that a pickup rollalso be provided so that the microfilm jacket-band is not separated atany time but may as in the nature of a computer reel be wound-up as, orlater wound-off as a further storage roll. The devices for holding andcarrying the microfilm jackets can, if necessary, also be arranged inparallel. The sections of the microfilm jacket may be of varying widths;this is true whether they are arranged in series or in parallel.

Preferred embodiments of the device of the invention are explained indetail in the following detailed description, with reference to thefollowing Figures.

THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the device of theinvention, with the image projection device presented schematically.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show in in-part views, a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in side views, in which two jacket-support and holdingdevices are arranged behind one-another in series; in FIG. 2, thetransfer mechanism is shown enlarged and in cross-section.

FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a lateral cross-section taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 3,with two jacket-support and holding devices linked to one-another, inseries.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the device of FIG. 1, without themicrofilm container carrier and holding devices.

FIG. 8 is a partial view of the transfer area from the introduction andinsertion device to the jacket-support carrier and holding device withthe microfilm jacket supported thereon.

FIG. 9 shows a lateral cross-section taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows the transfer area of the embodiment of FIG. 6, with twoopenings for the image projection device.

FIG. 11 shows the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6, with thejacket-support and holding devices removed.

FIG. 12 shows a cross section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 shows a partial enlargement of the view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 shows a lateral partial cross-section through the advanceprojection device of the invention.

FIG. 16 is an in-part view as a lateral partial cross-sectional viewthrough a special embodiment of the advance and image projection devicepursuant to the invention, in which two openings for the imageprojection devices are provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, a device pursuant to the invention is presented, consistingof a feeding device 16 with a cutting device 17 and a support andholding device 18. On the feeding and cutting device the microfilmprojection device 19 is mounted, in order to project a viewable image. Amicrofilm carrying lever 20 is fastened by means of the shaft 21 to thebase 22. The feeding and cutting device assembly 24 can be moved with alever 23. Lever 25, which is generally in the form of a knob, is used inorder to move to or fro the microfilm forwardly or advance it oralternately retract it. Into it the axle 26 is rotated, in whichlikewise the feeding and cutting device is mounted with freedom torotate. The channel-structure 27 forms a channel through which microfilm50 is channeled beneath wheel 53 into opening 59 beneath plate 27'. Atlocation 29 there is an exit opening 61 out of which the microfilm 50 ispushed forwardly from beneath plate 27' into and through space locatedbetween the spaced-apart portions of guide and lip structures 30. Atthat location within that space, the microfilm 50 is inserted into anopen slit insert-opening of a microfilm jacket 67, which slit has beencaused to open to become an insert-opening by the functioning mechanismof an insertion device. The insertion device includes a projectionhaving a lower surface 31; an upper surface 32 of a pivoting end of theplatform 35 presses upwardly against the lower surface 31, by whichmechanism an intermediate lip of the microfilm jacket 67 is held in adownwardly-flexed position as illustrated in FIG. 9, thereby resultingin the opening of the slit to become an insert-opening. The uppersurface 32, as seen in FIG. 9, is inclined downwardly. The key 34acoordinates with key 33 and thereby provides for exact alignment of themicrofilm 50 (to be inserted) with the above-noted open slitinsert-opening of the microfilm jacket 67, providing for neededadjustments.

Upper surface 32 is a forward end edge of the platform 35. The microfilmjacket support platform 35 is mounted pivotally with freedom to rotateon a pivoting lever 46 by means of the pivotably-mounted member 45, andis fastened by a releasable locking bolt 51 in FIG. 12, held by spring51a. The holding platform 35 can be moved laterally and snapped intoalternate positions provided along the entire length of platform 35,which corresponds to a width direction of the platform 35. The alternatepositions are provided for by the scalloped member 36 having a series ofconsecutive separate slots 38 along an upper surface 37 of the extendedportion 36a of the scalloped member 36. The platform 35 mounts a rollerwhich moves from one to another alternate slot, as roller 41 mountedbetween flanges 42a and 42b on axle 40. See FIGS. 7 and 12.

In the FIGS. 2 and 3, the embodiment of the device of the invention ispresented in which two consecutive holding platforms are linked behindone another, in series. A more rapid and accurate transfer of themicrofilm strip or the microfilm frame from the first microfilm jacketinto the microfilm jacket attached behind is ensured by operating inconjunction with rail structure 42.

It is apparent from FIGS. 1 through 9 that the lower surface 43b betweenthe flanges extends downwardly, against which the upper surface 43b ofrail structure 42 is normally pressed, when it is bolted, by virtue ofthe spring action, as may be seen from FIG. 12. A sliding knob 43 ispressed downwardly on rail structure 42 and extends upwardly through theopen space 44 into the platform 35. The platform 35 is locked intopivotably-mounted member 45 by means of a suitable metal strip 48 and alocking bolt 47. The roller 49 acts as a guide roller to conduct theband 50 beneath wheel 53 into the opening 59 which is formed beneathplate 27'. The locking structure 41b provides, by means of the lever orthe knob 51, for an axial insertion along the longitudinal axis of thescalloped member 36, that is, to the extent that one support and holdingstructure is arranged laterally in line with the other. Thus, it ispossible to align the end part 32 in such a manner that thecorresponding microfilm jacket section receives the microfilm in theexact position in front of the exit opening 29--i.e. the rear inputopening or rear opening, where the section is defined near the guide andlip structures 30. A screw or bolt 52, provided with a spring, extendsthrough the shaft or rod 54, in which the wheel 53 is mounted withfreedom to rotate. The shaft 54 is attached by means of the spring tothe bolt 52 in free contact and rotationally movable with a wheel whichis mounted on the shaft 26. This wheel is mounted firmly on it in orderto rotate about the shaft when the latter is rotated. These features maybe seen in FIG. 15, in which the surface of the wheel 53 engages surface56 of wheel 55, which is mounted on the shaft. An adjusting screw orbolt 93 determines the position at which the rotating channel structure27 is normally positioned with openings, in order to introduce themicrofilm in a suitable manner. The screw 57 has a shaft 57a whichextends through the rotating channel structure 27 and rests againstsupport base structure 22a.

FIG. 15 shows how the spring 58 presses the rotating channel structure27 upwardly into a stable position. Opening 59 for channel 60 has afilm-exit structure 63 defining an exit opening 61. At this exit opening61, the film 50 is introduced into the concave channel or section seat62, which is located between the spaced-apart portions of the guide andlip structure 30. This may be seen, for example, from FIG. 5. Channelstructure 64 forms a passage channel or passage section 70, throughwhich the microfilm can be conducted and through which a light can bedirected from below upwardly by means of a lens system, in order toobtain the corresponding image, with the aid of a microfilm projectiondevice, as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 12 and 14, the channel or section positions and the film-exitstructure 63 are shown in open position. FIG. 14 shows how the cuttinglever can be turned clockwise around the pivot in order to move the filmexit structure 63 downwardly. As a result, by means of theupwardly-turned concave opening, the cut-out seat 43 is cut-through theplatform 35. The separated film is pressed further into the microfilmjacket section, into which the cut-off film is shoved forwardly. Thespring 95 on knob 93 exerts pressure on the rotating channel structure27 and the pivotably-mounted leg 94. FIG. 4 shows how a connecting rod65 is mounted between flanges 34 and 34' in order to mount a furthersuitable mechanism, as shown in FIG. 7, for example. In this mechanism apart 66 is mounted to it by means of the shaft 65 and extends throughthe opening into the latter.

FIGS. 1 through 14 show how the roller 83 is attached to the rod 84 withthe microfilm feeding wheel 85 and how the microfilm jacket isintroduced by the guide 86, the guid 86 being a stationary guid on thebase 87. The base 87 is equipped with a position selector 88, whichmoves along the selector device 89 as a part of the arm structure 90that can be moved laterally back and forth to and fro. Structure 90 issupported by the rod 91 on the base 87. The carrying structure 91a,receives the microfilm jacket, from a roll mounted on the wheel 92,while the microfilm is introduced from the microfilm feeding wheel 49into the cutting device 17a.

FIGS. 1 through 13 show how the insertion and cutting mechanism, whichis free to move sideways to and fro back and forth, in order to selectthe desired microfilm jacket section, can be improved in its mode ofoperation by means of the wheel 92.

In the FIGS. 10, 11, and 16, a preferred embodiment is shown, in which,by means of apertures 70 and 70a, the microfilm or microfilm framesbeing passed through can be rendered viewable by means of two imageprojection devices, both before and after the cutting location.

The mode of operation of the device shown in FIGS. 1 through 16 pursuantto the invention, is extremely simple and effective. The microfilm 50 ismoved by means of the knob 25 which moves the shaft 26, so that themicrofilm 50 is moved out by means of the elements 55, 56, and 53 intothe opening 59 and then out of the opening 61 onto the lower concaveseating surface 62. The cutting device 63 cuts the microfilm in adownward motion if the channel structure 27 is moved by means of cuttinglever 23, upon which the edge of the surface 62 moves against thecutting surface. As a result, the film strip is cut through, if thecutting device 61, as shown in FIG. 14, is moved. By means of thecutting and advancing mechanism, the film is conveyed and stopped andbrought into a suitable cutting position. Then the lever 25 is turnedfurther and shoves the microfilm under the lip 73. Next the lever 25 ismoved back in a counter-clockwise direction, in order to have theremaining microfilm strips that have not been cut moved back and againmade visible, by means of the image projection device using the lightray passing through opening 70 or 77a as the case may be.

It is within the scope and spirit of the invention to make suchvariations and modifications and substitution of equivalents as might beapparent to a person of ordinary skill in this art.

I claim:
 1. A microfilm strip viewing and inserting device comprising incombination at least first and second image projection means mounted injuxta-position and in series with one another for providing a film stripguide path, and for positioning in simultaneously viewable states atleast a first frame of consecutive adjacent frames of a microfilm stripthrough said first image projection means, and the next adjacentconsecutive frame through said second projection means, said first andsecond image projection means positioned to project spaced apartadjacent images, said device further including microfilm insertion meansfor insertion of severed microfilm strip into a microfilm jacket, saidmicrofilm insertion means being adapted to impel a second frame ofsevered microfilm strip from a position viewable by the second imageprojection means position into an insert opening of a microfilm jacket.2. The microfilm strip viewing and inserting device of claim 1,including microfilm jacket support means positioned in juxtaposition toand in series with said microfilm insertion means, for supporting amicrofilm jacket in a microfilm strip-receiving position for insertionof the second frame of severed microfilm strip into a microfilm jacketwhen supported by said support means.